Man arrested in 2012 Debra Sellars murder

Published: Thursday, October 3, 2013 at 12:21 PM.

In addition, police told the Times-News in October 2012 that while canvassing a neighborhood, someone reported seeing Enoch getting into a van that matched the description of Sellars’ vehicle.

The murder arrest isn’t the first time Enoch has been charged with violence against Sellars.

On Feb. 6, 2012, Enoch pleaded guilty in Alamance County District Court to assault on a female. The charges were from an incident that occurred in Sellars’ home on Dec. 16, 2011, in which Enoch was accused of striking Sellars in the face with his fist three times and striking her with a frozen pack of meat.

He was arrested for the incident on Dec. 20, 2011. At the time, he also was charged with misdemeanor larceny for allegedly taking Sellars’ Cricket cell phone, but that charge was dropped when he pleaded guilty to the assault in February. On Sept. 12, 2012, Enoch received a suspended sentence of 150 days and was placed on 24 months supervised probation.

Exactly a year after finding her skeletal remains in rural northern Alamance County, Burlington police arrested a man Thursday in connection to the murder of 43-year-old Debra Dianne Sellars.

Rodney Lee Enoch, 42, of Burlington, was charged with first-degree murder. He was arrested at the Alamance County jail, where he was awaiting trial on unrelated domestic violence charges. He is being held there without bond.

According to police, an investigation showed that Sellars and Enoch were involved in a dating relationship at the time of her death.

Sellars was initially reported missing by her family April 24, 2012. At that time, they hadn’t seen her for several days and was last known to be operating a 2000 gold Ford Windstar. Sellars had told her son on April 20, 2012, she would be home in time for him to use the van that they shared, but never returned.

Burlington Police Lt. Brian Long said the agency determined Enoch was a suspect in the murder after conducting a series of interviews and meeting with the District Attorney’s office. Additionally, a few months ago, the office of the state medical examiner ruled that the death was a homicide, he said.

“After everything was said and done and interviews compiled and reviewed with the district attorney, we feel there’s probable cause to believe he’s responsible,” Long said.

Police had seen Sellars’ van April 20, 2012, in a gravel parking lot on East Market Street, and on April 21 blocking a private driveway on Hawkins Street.

In addition, police told the Times-News in October 2012 that while canvassing a neighborhood, someone reported seeing Enoch getting into a van that matched the description of Sellars’ vehicle.

The murder arrest isn’t the first time Enoch has been charged with violence against Sellars.

On Feb. 6, 2012, Enoch pleaded guilty in Alamance County District Court to assault on a female. The charges were from an incident that occurred in Sellars’ home on Dec. 16, 2011, in which Enoch was accused of striking Sellars in the face with his fist three times and striking her with a frozen pack of meat.

He was arrested for the incident on Dec. 20, 2011. At the time, he also was charged with misdemeanor larceny for allegedly taking Sellars’ Cricket cell phone, but that charge was dropped when he pleaded guilty to the assault in February. On Sept. 12, 2012, Enoch received a suspended sentence of 150 days and was placed on 24 months supervised probation.